Machine for folding box blanks and the like



1 F. H. CHAPMAN 2,519,111

MACHINE FOR FOLDING BOX BLANKS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 8, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 15, 1950 F. H. CHAPMAN 2,519,111

MACHINE FOR FOLDING BOX BLANKS AND THE LIKE Filed OGt 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug.- 15, 1950 F. HJCHAPMAN 2,519,111

MACHINE FOR FOLDING BOX BLANKS AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. s, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet s fi'r'mwlli Oiaapmw, by MMmM/F flirvmnegs Patented Aug. 15 1 950 MACHINE FOR FOLDING BOX BLANKS AND THE LIKE 5 Fred H. ChapmanQPeppereH, Mass., assignor to l The International Paper Box Machine. Company, Nashua, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Application as 8,1945. Serial No. 620,912 r "This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for folding tabs upon diagonal crease 17' Claims Another object of th e invention is to provide a lifter for bending upwardly the side of the lines of the side walls ,of box blanks and thelike and concerns principally the folding of the rear or trailing tabs of the blank.

i More specificallyvthe invention relates to im; provements in. blank folding mechanisms of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,261,018

granted October 28,1941 for Machine for Folding Blanks. In that construction means are provided for folding the rear tab of a blanklalong diagonal crease lines upwardly over and against theupper 7 face of the sidewall to produce what is known The principal object ofthe present invention is to. provide mechanism which iscapable not only of producing an foutfold tab, but also more particularly forproducing an infold tab byraising the side wall and bending the tab downwardly and inwardly against theunder face of the side wall,'the purpose of the infoldingtab being, when used in box manufacture, to provide a collapsible box. which" when assembled andcollapsed will bodied in a box folding machine in which a series of suitably spaced blanks are caused to travel traveling blank having means to engage said side at or near the diagonal crease of thetab and in coperation withthe, folder to insure ac-. curate, folding of the tab downwardly, and in& wardly upon the crease line toward theunder face of the side wall.

A further object of theiinvention is to pro vide mechanism for actuating the lifter in coordination with the folder and-which will raise the lifter at increased speed during the desired period of operation of the folder, thereby to bend the tab sharply. and accurately on the diagonal fold line. l l

A further object of the invention is to pro vide means for respec'tively depressing the folder and the lifter below. the paperline out of the pathof thenext traveling blank. 1 Another feature of the invention-comprises means for securing the folder supporting arm and the lifter supporting arm, respectively to the 170-. tating member :-to enable them to be adjusted circumferentially relativelyto each other properly to position them relatively to the traveling blanks. x g l These and other objects and features of the I invention will more fully appear from the followcontinuously along'a horizontal zone, known as a paper line, between upper and lower guides with the sides of the blank, which are defined by'longitudin'al foldlines; projecting beyond the respective guides andi provided adjacent their ends with diagonal crease lines upon which the tabs defined thereby"'ar'e so folded that when glued to complementary fold flaps on the ends of -Another object of the invention is to provide means for depressingthe folder below the paper line after completion of the'tab folding operation inadvanceof, and' out of interferencewith, the

next traveling-tab: :3 1 r ing description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims. a A preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is'shown in the accompanying drawings which illustrate themechanism for folding the rear or trailing tab .of-one side of a box.

In the drawings? l Fig. 1 is a view; partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing. the essential parts of. the invention adapted to be embodied ina blank folding machineof the type described. and also showing in dotted lines different posi-. tions of the folding and the side lifting means; Fig. 2 is a viewmainly in plan and partly -in horizontal section-of the construction shown. in Fi .1; I Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail plan view of the offset arm upon which the support for the folder) is hinged} v Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the offset arm upon which the lifter mechanism is mounted Fig. 5 is a plan view of a form of box blank having sides provided with diagonally creased-tabs adapted to be folded by the mechanism herein described; s

Fig. 6 is a view showing the infolded tabs of the inwardly folded sides and flaps on the end panels; of the blank folded inwardly, the tabs and/or the panelsbeing spotted; with adhesive for uniting them to form an assembled box structure;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the assembled box in collapsed positiort; and I Fig. 8 is a perspective View or the erected loox.

Inasmuch as mechanism for forwarding a series of blanks and that required to fold the forward tabs of the blank upon diagonal crease" lines, either to produce an outfold or an inftild, may be of a usual character, no illustration thereof is necessary and the drawing therefore is confined to mechanism for folding the fear or trailing tabs of the sides of the blank.

Inasmuch as mechanism for folding diagonal crease tabs on both sides of a box are'si-milar only one mechanism is described herein, it being un derstood that the other is similar but so reversed as to provide right hand and left hand folds, the iiiehahisrn for folding the right hand being alone illiistrfate'd, erein. H in order to enable the operation of the machine more readily to be understood a form of box hiani; having diagonall creased tabs and the manner which they are folded is illustrated in Figs. -8 inclusive.

The box blank illustrated eoihprises' a base 21 having front and rear panels ii and c" formin the ends of the box and" havin at the r respective ends flaps d and side panels e each having a front diagonally creased/tab f and a rear or trailing d agonally er ased tab 9" as shown in Fig. As illustrated iiiFi 6 the flaps d or the end panels band 0 are folded inwardly upon the re pective panels Band C. The tab j and g or the side panels e are folded against the under face or the side panels and" the side panels 6 then folded upon the base a. Glue spots 71 are ap iad'ily' erected to the position illustrated ill Fig"; 8;

The folding machine comprises longitudinally extending upper and l'ovwer parallel bars and 2 oetweeh which the body of the'rblankis caused to travel by usual mechanism with the sides or the blank projecting beyond the bars I and 2-. The meohanisin orinfol iiig'the rear or trailing tab got the blank comprises a rotatable member havthe an' ar movable through part or its rotat on in parallelisrn with and in the directionof movement of the traveling blank with a folder head support hinged to the arm, a folder 7 plate mounted on said support toeng'a'ge and fold the tan upon the crease line, and means for increas mg the rate of movement or the folder head at tfi' time of folding" beyvfid' its normal eripheral speed. I

The rotatable member is also provided with an armlooated in advance of the folding mechanism having hinged to it a spring actuated lifter for bendin upwardly the side of the blank into the path of the folding mechanism, and also provided with means to engage the crease of the tab at the time of folding thereby to insure aeeurate hehding of the tab on the ereas'e line.

As illustrated inthe drawings the rotating member is an assemblage comprising a shaft 3 having keyedii-pon it for longitudinal adjust} ment a sleeve 4 upon which the hubs or radial- M'Irls' carrying respectively side lifting and tab upon it by a suitable bolt H. vided' with an offset portion I2 upon the end of mounted in a boss 8 of the supporting frame of the blank forwarding machine or a bracket mounted thereon.

The spacer sleeve abuts at its inner end: against the hub of the adjacent arm of the side lifting mechanism and at its outer end is engaged by a nut 3a on the shaft 3. When the nut is set it clamps the spacer sleeve against the hub of the lifter arm so that the assembled shaft 3, sleeve 5, spacer sleeve 5, and the lifter and folder carrying arms rotate as a unit.

The lifter arm. W has a spit cylindrical hub fitting upon the sleeve 4 and adjustably clamped The arm is prowhich is pivotally mounted a lifting lever [3 having an extension M'between which and the boss IS on. the arm I0 is a compression spring l5 tending to swihg the lifting lever inwardly. The lifting lever ['3 is provided with an inwardly extending boss it upon which is rotatably mounted a cam follower is adapted to enga e the "cam is which is adjustably connected by bolt and slot connection 20' to the cry indrical'periphery of the cam plate I. The lifting lever 13' has adjustahly secured upon its end a Breaker plate 2| having a flat face 22 to engage and raise the side of the blank and an edge 22:; positioned to en age-the diagonal crease of the tab acting in cooperation with the folding mechanism to insure proper breaking of the tab" on the diagonal crease line. The sleeve 4 has also adjustably secured to it rearwardly of the lifter arm I a folder arm 23 having a split hub 2'4 adapted to fit the sleeve 4' and to he adzjiistably elafni ed upon it by a suitable bolt '25. The folder arm 23 is provided with abifurcated end portion 26 upon which the front end of t e base of atriahgul ar folder support 21' pivot-all mounted.

The folder support has a flat upper end 28 upon which. a folder 29 isad'justabl'y secured by a bolt and. slot connection 30. The folder may be providedwith means for folding an outfold tab or an infold tab. As illustrated herein means are provided for folding. an. infold tab,

fIfhe other end. of. the base of the triangular folder support is provided with. a cam follower 3 which engages a cam groove or track 32 in the face of the cam plate 1. I

Inthe construction. illustrated. the folder for folding an. infold tab has a. straight tab engaging surface 33 terminating in a hooked end portion 34ladaptedduring the arcuate forward movemerit of the folder to engage over the edge of the dia onally creased. tab and upon forward and down-wardmovement to bend the-tab downwardly and. inwardly toward the under face of an upturned side of the blank; The folder 29 also has a curved under surface 35 adapted to engage the tab along its rear edge and has also at the lower end of. the curved portion: a diagonally extending ledge 35 adapted to engage the rear edge of the tab and force: the tab side wall. upwardly more eitectivel-y' to-b'end the'tab' upon its diagonal crease line during the folding operation.

. The cam: plate I: is a-d'iustabliy secured to the frame or b'raiel'tet by a. suitable bolt. andsiot confolding means are mounted in sueh manner as to= nectioni ST'tct permit the. folding. operation. to be adjusted in accordance with. the movement of the traveling blank.v The cam groove 3-2: of the cam plate t is mainlyconcentric but has an outwardly curved. portion. 38 adapted during: the rotation ofthe folder amt-231th cause the cam follower 3| upon the folder headisupportto rock the folder support forwardly about its pivot on the endof the arm 23 andflthereby, advance the folder during the folding operation at a speed greater than its normal speed, thereby rapidly folding the tab upon its diagonal crease line. The outwardly curved portion38 of the cam groove merges into an inwardly extending sharply eurved portion 39 which, arrests the forward movement of the folder plate'sufliciently to permit the traveling blank to move the tab from beneath the folder on an outfold box and over thefolder on an infold box. The inner end of the sharply curved portion 39 of the cam groove merges into an inwardly curved portion which causes the cam follower 3| to depress the folder below the paper line as the traveling blank continues to advance so that the folder will not interfere with the next traveling blank.

, Atj or'just prior to the increasing movement of the folder the lifter plate is raised at an increasing speed to engage the under face of the blank amen;

along the crease'line by a steeply inclined surface 4| of the peripheral cam l9 sothat the cooperation between the movements of the folder and the lifter serves to insure accurate bending of the tab upon the diagonal crease line., 1 By reason of the adjustability ofthe cam plate liabout the axis of the shaft 3, and because of the adju'stability of the cam I Q, the action of the lifter mechanism and folder mechanism may be coordinated properly to fold the trailing tabs of successive blanks presented thereto. f

If desired additional lifter arms and additional folder arms with the respective lifting and folding'mechanism thereon maybe mounted upon thejsleeve diametrically opposite tothose herein illustrated toincrease the speed of operation of the machine when operating upon blanks of suitable length for which such mechanism is adapted. I While the mechanism is hereindescribed as tabs the machine may also be adapted for the 6 fold box. With an infold box the folder will be depressed to the paper line andthe' tab will pass over the folder between bars '42 and 43. In the meantime, and simultaneously durin'g the arrested movement of the folder, the lifter will be'depressed below the paper line by the ac: tion of the spring l6 fencing the cam follower into contact with the cylindrical peripheral surface of the cam in which depressed position it will remain until the cam roller Hi again engages the abrupt surface 4| of the cam l9. After the folder has folded the tab in its raised position and as the folder head moves downwardly toward level position at the folder line the tension of the side wall dueto the resilience of the material returns the side wall with the tab folded thereon toward horizontal position, As theblank is carried forward the side and the infolded tab passes between guide bars 42 and 43 which serve to press the sides into horizonal position and the infolded tabs closely against the. faces of the side's so that the blank may be carried to mechanism for folding the sides inwardly preparatory to the glue spotting mechanism and the mechanisms for folding the blank to produce the as sembled collapsed box above described.

It will be understood that the particular embodiments of theinvention shown and described herein are of an illustrative character and not restrictive of the meaning and scope of the following claims. j Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: p 1. A machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally creased line of a side of a blank continuously travelling along a'paper line comprising means forv raising said side above the paperline, a rotatable member having. anarm movable through part of its rotation in parallelism with landin the direction of movement of the blank, a

folding of outfoldedtabs by the'substitution for the folder herein described of a folder such as that shown in my prior patent in which case the side lifting mechanism need not have the breaker plate of the character herein described.

I In the operation of the machine blanks hav-' ing sides provided with diagonal crease lines for the rear or trailing tabs are, carried along the paper line upon suitable mechanism between the bars I and 2 with the sides projectingtherebeyond. 'lfhe mechanism herein described is rotated at, a proper 's'p eed correlated to the rate 'of travel of the blanks and during'the rotation of the mech anism'herein described the sides of the blank are lifted by the lifter mechanism during its rapid lifting movement to a position above the paper line in which the hooked end of. the folder will pass over the upper edge of the tab.

'l By reason of the increased speed of the moveingoperation the tab will be quickly folded. over the. breaker edge of the sidelifter. As the tab is being. thus folded the lower edge of .the tab will be engaged by the ledge, 36 of the folder which' will raise the tab andside andso position the diagonal crease of the tab as to be most effectively acted upon by the diagonal breaker member ofthe lifter and the forward movement of the folder to fold the tab accurately upon the diagonal crease line. The forward movement of the" folder will then be arrested as the cam follower 3! moves down the inwardly inclinedpath of, the cam groove so that the tab of the blank will travel from beneath the-'folder on anrout and below said paper line during such rotation and having means operable while above the paper line to engage, position and fold said tab upon the diagonally creased line, and means for increasing the rate of movement of said head at the time of folding beyond its normal periphenal speed. 1

2. A'machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally creased line of a side of .a blank continuously traveling along a paper linecomp'risi ng: means for raising said side above the paper line, a rotatable member having an arm movable through part of its rotation in parallelism with and' in the direction of movement of the blank, a head support hingedv to said arm having a folder head mounted on said support movable above and below said paper line during such rotation and having means operable while above the paper line to engage, position and fold said tab upon the diagonally creased line, means for increasing the rate of movement of said head at thetime of folding beyond its normal peripheralspeed, and means for arresting the forward movement of the head to allow the. tab to pass from under said head as it approachesjthe' paper line. H p

3. .A machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally creased lin'eof a side of a blank continu-f in the direction of movement of the blank, a head support hinged to said am having a folder head mounted on said support movable above and below said paper line such rotation and having means operable while above the paper line to engage, position and fold said. tab upon the diagonally creased line; iiieafls for increasing the rate of movement of said head at the time of folding beyond its notitiial per pheral s eed, and means for al l'stllig th fOiWIl'd movement of the head to allow the tab to pass from under said head as it a roaches the paper line, and thereafter depressing said foldei head below said paper line.

- 4. A machine for folding a tab: upon a diagonally creased line of a side of a blank ddntiffiiou iy traveling along a aper line comprising a rotatable member having an arm mova le through part of its rotation in parallelism with and in thedirectloli of movementor the mask, a

head support hinged to said arm having a folder head mounted on said sup ort movable above and below said paper line during such rotation; said head having a tab-en aging surface inclined angularly to the plane of rotation of said head provided with a hooked end portion to en age over the edge of the tab and bend the tab under a th side of the blank to form an inside fold.

or A machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally creased line of a side of a blank continuously traveling along a paper line comprising a rotatable member having an arm movable through part of its rotation in parallelism with and in the direction of movementof the blank, a

head support hinged to said ant navmga folder 7 guiding the edge of the tab against said ledge as it is being folded. I h

6. A machine for folding a tab a disconall creased iine of a side of a blank conti .ucusiy traveling along a paper line com rising a rotatable member having an arm movable through part of its rotation in paraueiism with and in the direction or movement of the blank, a' head su port hinged to said arm having a ahead 7 8 t, A "machine for raiding a tab liiiofi a diagotally creased line or a side of a bla'rlli continuousl'y' t avenng along a ta er nice comp ising a rotatable member having a folding member pivotany'moiihted thereon for folding the tab towara tne under face or the side, a lifting ininter pivotany mounted on said rotating member having to engage the side at or near the diagooaicrease or said tab, means for actuating folder head mounted on said support movable above and below said aper line during such r0 tation and having means to engage and fold said tab upon the diagonally reased line, another arminounted on said rotating member having a side wall litter hinged to said anii, and means for actuating said side lifter to break the tab along said crease line while the tab is engaged by said lifter.

I '7, A machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally' creased line of a side ofa blank continuously' traveling along a paperline comprising a rotatable memberhaving a folding member" 151V- otally mounted thereon for folding the tab toward the; under face of the side, a lifting member pivotally mounted on said rotating member having means to" enga e the side at or near the dia gonal rease of said tab; means for actuating said folding member, and means for actuating sail lifting member in timed relation to said folding in'ember to engage the crease line as thefoldmg member bends the tab.

rotating h said towing member, and means for actuating said liftiiig member in timed relation to said folding member to engage the crease line as the folding member" bends the tab incl ding iii-cans iorincreasing the speed of said lifting member at the desired nerica or operation of the folding means.

9, A machine for folding a tab u on a diagohairy creased liiie of a side of a blank continuotisly traveiin aiohga paper line comprising a fi an arm, a lifter pivotall'y mounted their n'having means to engage the diag nal crease line, an 'said rotary member following" the or said lifter, a folder support hinged to said a folder mounted on saidsupport having means to engage the tab and bend it toward the under fate of the side; of the blank, and means for actuating said lifter and said folder in suitably timed relation to cause the conjoint action of said lifter and folder to bend the tab accurate-1y upon said diagonal crease line.

10. A machine for folding a tab u on a diagon'all'y creased line of a side of a blank continuously traveling alorig a paper line comprising a rotatingmember having an arm, a lifter pivotany mounted thereon having means to engage the diag'ohal crease line, an a m ofi said rotary memnot following the arm of said lifter, a folder support hinged to said arm, a folder mounted o'n said support having means to" engage the tab and bend it toward the under face of the side of the blank, and means for actuating said lifter and said folder in suitably timed relation to cause the con joint action or said lifter and folder to bend the tab accurately upon said diagonal crease line including means for increasing the forward movement of the folder at the time of folding beyond its peripheral speed, arresting said forward moveinent at the end of the" folding movement, and

then moving said folder below the paper line.

11. A machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally creased line of a side of a blank continuously traveling along a aper line comprising a rotating member having an arm, a lifter p-ivotally' mounted thereon having means to engage the diagonal crease line, an arm on said rotary mem-' ber' following the aim of said lifter, a folder su port hinged to said arm, a folder mounted on said support having means to engage the tab and bend it toward the under race of the side of the blank, and means for actuating said lifter and said folder in suitably tirried relation to cause the con-- joint action of said lifter and folder to bend the tab accurately upon said diagonal crease line" including means for iii-creasing the forward move ment of the fol'der at the time of folding beyond its peripheral speed, arresting said forward move-- ment at the end of the folding movement, and then moving said folder below the fold line, and including means for increasin the lifting speed of the lifter at the desired speed of operation thereof and then moving the lifter below the paper line. g 7 h 12. a machine for folding a tab upon a di ago'nally creased litre of a side of a blank con tinuously traveling along a paper line comprising a frame, a rotatable member journaled in said frame having a radial arm, a triangular folder support hinged on one end of its base to said side arm, a folder mounted on the other end of said support having an angularly inclined tab-engaging surface, a lifter for bending the side and its tab into the path of said folder, means for actuating said folder comprising a cam follower mounted on said triangular support at the other end of said base engaging a cam fixedly secured to said frame and having a path adapted to increase the rate of movement of the folfer at the time of folding beyond its normal peripheral speed, to arrest the normal movement of the folder at a predetermined time, and then to depress the folder beyond the paper line.

13. A machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally creased line of a side of a blank continuously traveling along a paper line comprising a frame, a rotatable member journaled in said frame having a radial arm, a triangular folder support hinged on one end of its base to said side arm, a folder mounted on the other end of said support having an angularly inclined tabengaging surface, a lifter for bending the side and its tab into the path of said folder, means for actuating said folder comprising a cam follower mounted on said triangular support at the other end of said base engaging a cam fixedly secured to said frame and having a path adapted to increase the rate of movement of the fold at the time of folding beyond its normal peripheral speed, to arrest the normal movement of the folder at a predetermined time, and then to depress the folder beyond the paper line, and means for actuating said lifter including means to raise it at increasing speed at the desired period of operation of the folder.

14. A machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally creased line of a side of a blank continuously traveling along a paper line comprising a frame, a rotatable member journaled in said frame having a radial arm, a triangular folder support hinged on one end of its base to said side arm, a folder mounted on the other end of said support having an angularly inclined tabengaging surface, a lifter arm on said rotating member in advance of said folder supporting arm, a spring actuated lifter for the side of the blank pivotally mounted on said arm having means for engagingthe diagonal crease line of said blank, means for respectively actuating said folder and lifter cooperatively to bend the tab accurately on said crease line comprising a cam plate fixedly secured to said'fra-me having a cam groove, engaged by a cam follower on the base of said triangular folder support, forming a path to increase the rate of movement of the folder at the time of folding beyond its normal of the lifter by its spring below the paper line.

15. A machine for folding a tab upon a diagonally creased line of a side of a blank continuously traveling along a paper line comprising a frame, a rotatable member journaled in said frame having a radial arm, a triangular folder support hinged on one end of its base to said side arm, a folder mounted on the other end of said support having an angularly inclined tabengaging surface, a lifter arm on said rotating member in advance of said folder supporting arm, a spring actuated lifter for the side of the blank pivotally mounted on said arm having means for engaging the diagonal crease line of said blank, means for respectively actuating said folder and lifter cooperatively to bend the tab accurately on said crease line comprising a cam plate fixedly secured to said frame having a cam groove, engaged by a cam follower on the base of said triangular folder support, forming a path to increase the rate of movement of the folder at the time of folding beyond its normal peripheral speed, to arrest the movement of the folder at a predetermined time and then to depress the folder beyond the folder line, said cam plate also having a cam engaging a cam follower on said lifter operable to raise the lifter with increasing speed at the desired period of operation of the folder, and then to permit depression of the lifter below the paper line, and means for rotarily adjusting said cam plate about the axis of said rotating member to position the folding and lifting mechanism properly relatively to the traveling blanks.

16. A machine for folding on a diagonal creased line a corner tab of the side panel of a blank continuously traveling along a horizontal paper line which comprises tab-folding and side panel-lifting means, means operating said folding and lifting means to cause the lifting means to bend upward the portion of the said side panel adjacent the tab and to cause the folding means to bend the tab downward on said diagonal creased line against the said side panel and thereafter in conjunction with the advancing movement of the blank to release the blank and allow its resiliency to return the side panel, with the tab folded therebeneath, to substantially horizontal position.

1'7. A machine for folding on a diagonal creased line a trailing corner tab of the side of a blank continuously traveling along a horizontal paper line which comprises a member rotatable about a stationary center having a portion thereof moving, upon forward rotation of said member, substantially in the same direction of travel as that of the blank and provided with means acting upon said forward rotation to bend upward the portion of the said blank side adjacent the tab, means rotatable about the said center acting as the side portion is thus bent upward to bend downward the tab on said diagonal creased line, and means acting to rotate said member and said downward-bending means in the direction of blank travel and to cause the side portion upward bending means and the tabdownward bending means to travel slower and then faster during part of their operation than the travel of the blank.

FRED H. CHAPMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

